With England starting their Six Nations campaign on Saturday without the injured Jonny Wilkinson, Mike Tindall, Will Greenwood, Stuart Abbott, Richard Hill and Martin Corry, the causes of player burn-out have become a serious issue for Robinson.
Ironically, with the amateur days of doctors, dentists and lawyers playing international rugby largely a thing of the past, it now appears that finding a job, vocation or a challenge away from the game is just as important to players as being physically fit.
In a two-year study of top-class New Zealand rugby between 2002 and 2004, Cresswell found that burn-out is not just the symptom of playing too many games.
Now the Kiwi expert has been asked to turn his mind to the English game in a three-year study backed by the Rugby Football Union, the Professional Rugby Players' Association and the organisers of the Premiership.
"It is important to find an activity outside of rugby which is flexible enough to fit in with their game," he said. "It is positive to have an activity where players can show competence, have achievements. It can be vocational training, charity work or business interests. All players are different. Some have degrees. Others were labourers before they came into the game.
"Players need a break and something that can give them perspective. It also gives them the possibility to plan for a life after rugby."
The idea is that when a player hits bad form, depression does not sink in because he has other interests where he is having success. That helps stop the symptoms of burn-out - physical and mental exhaustion and moody behaviour.
Cresswell started gathering data from clubs in the Premiership during a visit to London last week.
Robinson believes Cresswell's work will be very important. He said: "We are having far too many injuries. It has been coming, and we now have to say that enough is enough and look at how we are going to address the season.
"We have to develop a structured season that enables players to perform at their highest every time they turn out for the clubs and their country. That is an issue we ignore. I don't want them to be playing well just for England, I want them performing well for their clubs."
ENGLAND'S WOUNDED
Mike Tindall (Bath, centre) INJURY: stress fracture to foot PROGNOSIS: looks certain to miss Wales and France games
Will Greenwood (Harlequins, centre) INJURY: recovering from shoulder operation PROGNOSIS: set to miss the entire Six Nations
Stuart Abbott (Wasps, centre) INJURY: broken leg PROGNOSIS: minimum 10 weeks out of action
Jonny Wilkinson (Newcastle, fly-half) INJURY: suffering from a knee ligament problem PROGNOSIS: in the balance whether he plays in the tournament
Richard Hill (Saracens, flanker) INJURY: has undergone knee reconstruction surgery PROGNOSIS: will miss all of the Six Nations
Martin Corry (Leicester, No8) INJURY: dislocated elbow PROGNOSIS: set to miss Wales and France games
